The offenders are believed to have broken into the back of their home on Lawton Road, Rainhill, while they were out on the evening of Thursday, June 30.

Victim Gaynor Smith, 43, said the family were ‘delighted’ that their adult pug Archie was now safely back at home.

But she said the search was still on for Rocco, who is just six months old.

She said: “Obviously we are delighted to have Archie back, though he’s fretting a bit. He keeps looking for Rocco. We are all still searching for him.

Pugs, Archie and Rocco, were stolen in a burglary

“We found Archie on Friday evening. I got a phone call from a friend - someone had said on Facebook they had just bought a pug. I got in contact with the lad, who gave me his number straight away and gave Rocco to us. He said he had paid £200 for him, but said it was our dog.

“We think Rocco will be in the Sutton area of St Helens too, near there. There was a reported sighting this morning in St Helens of a male pug puppy at the car boot sale on Chalon Way - three people said they saw one.”

She praised people’s effort in supporting her appeal to help bring Rocco home: “Everyone’s been fantastic sharing the appeal online, there’s been an overwhelming response.”

The dognappers are believed to have arrived in a black Mercedes CLC 180, before forcing their way into the family’s home to steal their white Mercedes and two dogs.

They made off in the two vehicles.

Mrs Smith previously told the ECHO a neighbour phoned her after noticing the disturbance while she and her family were out seeing her youngest daughter’s play.

The family car was also stolen in the burglary

She said the family rushed home and arrived at around 6.45pm, but it was too late.

She said on Friday before Archie was found: “I couldn’t care less about the car and the Xbox, I just want the dogs back. I’m devastated.

“The kids are absolutely gutted too, they’ve been off school all day.

The Smith family’s car has the registration number MM65 AAX.

Detective Constable Roy Waller from St Helens CID said: “We would like to reassure the community that we are working to identify the people responsible, and locate the dogs and both cars.”

Anyone with information in relation to this offence or burglaries in general is asked to contact St Helens CID on 0151 777 6802, the non-emergency 101 number or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.